Alliance to Save Energy Offers Consumers Energy Efficiency Tips to Cope with Natural Gas Shortages, Higher Related Summer, Winter Energy Prices

Tight supplies and high prices for natural gas are likely to boost home energy bills for air conditioning and electricity this summer and heating this winter. A hot summer would put a greater strain on supplies of natural gas, the fuel for a growing number of the power plants that produce our nation’s electricity. But consumers can keep their energy bills from skyrocketing, help ensure electricity reliability, and reduce air pollution by adopting energy-efficiency measures recommended by the Alliance to Save Energy.

Reducing Summer Cooling and Electric Bills

• Reduce air conditioning usage and related energy bills easily. Clean or change filters regularly, and install a programmable thermostat or timer. This allows the AC to remain off while the house is empty and still cool down the house shortly before family members return home – without wasting money and energy all day. (They will come in handy in cold weather, too, to reduce home heating bills.)
• Ceiling and other fans provide additional cooling and better air circulation, so you can raise the thermostat and cut down on air conditioning costs without sacrificing comfort.
• Consumers can save up to 30 percent on their home energy bills by choosing Energy Star-labeled appliances, lighting, windows, office equipment, air conditioners, furnaces, and home electronics. Energy Star is the symbol for energy efficiency for products certified by the Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency. An Energy Star clothes washer uses less water and energy, for combined savings of up to $120 a year. And washing some clothes in cold water saves energy that would otherwise be used to heat the water. Find additional information, including nearby retailers, at www.energystar.gov.
• Improving central or room air conditioning? A Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) of 12 or higher on your central AC system means it uses 20 percent less electricity than a standard new unit, for summer savings of about $600 over the system’s lifetime. Look for the Energy Star label on an individual room unit, and be sure it’s the right size for the room, to ensure efficient and effective operation and dehumidifying.
• Refinancing your home to take advantage of lower interest rates? Consider wrapping in energy-efficiency home improvements that would reduce your monthly energy bills. Interest would be tax deductible in many cases.
• Light up your life – efficiently. Replace your four most used 100-watt incandescent bulbs with four comparable 23-watt compact fluorescent bulbs to save $108 over three years. If all U.S. households did this, we’d save as much energy as is consumed annually by some seven million cars.
• Keep those intense afternoon rays from heating up the house by planting leafy trees and vines around your home, installing reflective tiles on your roof, and/or installing window treatments: blinds or shades inside, trellises or awnings outside.
• Choose safer, efficient Energy Star torchiere lamps instead of heat-producing halogen torchiere lamps, which can CAUSE FIRES, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. While relatively inexpensive to purchase, they are expensive to operate.
• Waste not, want not. When they are not in use, turn off lights, TVs, stereos, computers. Activate “sleep” features on computers and office equipment. Consider motion detectors and sensors for your indoor and outdoor lighting.
• Check your refrigerator - it runs 24 hours a day. Clean the coils to reduce your energy bills and improve the life of your refrigerator.

Reducing Winter Heating Bills

• Consumers can make their heating systems operate better and longer by having an annual professional “tune up” and by cleaning or replacing filters once a month.
• Insulation, weather stripping, and caulking are great ways to cut heating costs by plugging up energy “leaks.” Prevent loss of up to 20 or 30 percent of your home’s energy by making sure your air ducts are not leaking and are properly insulated. (See North American Insulation Manufacturers Association (NAIMA) consumer web site www.simplyinsulate.com).
• In colder climates with a significant heating season, energy-efficient windows retain more heat, permit less air leakage, and provide warmer window surfaces for improved indoor comfort.
• Allow the sun to help heat your home by keeping blinds of sun-exposed windows open in the daytime; close them at night for maximum heat retention.
• Consider planting evergreen trees on the north side of your home to block winter winds.